Freedom to Move: METRO + HISD Open Doors for Students

High school just got a little easier to navigate for Houston ISD students. Thanks to a new partnership between METRO and HISD, every high school student in the district can now ride METRO free of charge for the 2025–2026 school year. 

This means more than just a ride to school. With a METRO Q® Card in hand, students can hop on a bus, METRORail, or METRO curb2curb service to get to after-school activities, sports, or even a part-time job—all at no cost to them or their families. 

Here’s how it works: HISD is purchasing the METRO Q® Cards as an alternative to traditional school transportation, and students can sign up through their school administrators. Once issued, the cards are theirs to use, making it easy to get where they need to go. Families save on transportation costs, and students gain independence and safe, reliable access to the city. 

“Reliable transportation is a gateway to opportunity,” said METRO Board Chair Elizabeth Gonzalez Brock. “This partnership opens doors for education, employment, and engagement, and we’re proud to support the success of Houston’s students.” 

The program also integrates with METRO’s RideMETRO app, giving students access to trip planning, real-time tracking, and service alerts. Every vehicle is ADA-accessible and equipped with Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and security cameras—so parents can feel confident that their kids are traveling safely and comfortably. 

HISD sees it as an investment in student success. 

“This is more than a transportation solution, it’s an investment in our students’ futures,” said Kari Feinberg, HISD’s Chief of Organizational Effectiveness. 

And students are already taking advantage. In the first week alone, about 800 cards were requested across 38 schools, with Bellaire, Kinder HSPVA, DeBakey, Lamar, and Westside leading the pack. 

Dante Arceneaux—known to many as “The METRO Kid”—put it best: 

“I wish it were something I had when I was in school… Some kids come from homes where they don’t have bus fare," Arceneaux told KPRC. 

By teaming up, METRO and HISD are making sure transportation is one less thing for families to worry about, and one more tool students can count on to chase their goals.